GAZA SKY GEEKS WORKING MOTHERS’ DAY FOCUS GROUP | FREELANCING MOMS EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES

At Gaza Sky Geeks, creating a more equitable and inclusive work environment for both men and women is embedded in our mission. We doubled down on this commitment by organizing an event called “Working Mothers’ Day,” a safe space for mothers who are also freelancers to share experiences balancing their many identities.

This event came as an outcome of the “Gender Pay Gap Study” and much freelance community deep dives since 2020.? Unpaid care was one of the primary topics that came out of the study.? Thus, we conducted this event for freelancing mothers to create a space for them to share their stories.

The number of self-employed mothers is growing due to the freedom, flexibility, and financial independence it provides. Mothers tend to choose to freelance over full-time office jobs to devote more time to childcare, while still earning and benefiting from the mental stimulation that paid work provides. A freelancing mother can advance her career, while still being present for important family moments.? We recognize that freelancing and motherhood don’t come without challenges; there’s a learning curve when it comes to earning a good living and balancing parental pressures with client demands.

MAKING SPACE TO HEAR FROM WORKING MOTHERS

A total of 23 mothers and 21 children attended the event. Supervision and activities were organized for the children so that the mothers could hold focused, dedicated space for another. The event also included a discussion-style focus group to collect qualitative data related to the realities of freelancing while being a mother. We also hosted a certified life coach, Lana Murad, who delivered a session about well-being, time management, and work-life balance.

Mothers shared the concerns and challenges they encounter as freelancers. This event was also a chance for them to network and build a support system in which to exchange tips, tricks, practices, and encouragement on how to deal with household obligations alongside the pressure to meet client needs and job bids.

“This event was a great opportunity to meet a unique group of ladies and benefit from their experiences. We heard lots of opinions on freelancing and talked about the obstacles which get in the way. We worked together to try and find solutions even if they were temporary.” - Mother freelancer participant

The focus group provided us with insights into the mothers' freelancing challenges, concerns, and daily struggles, as we discovered that 11 freelancing mothers out of 23 work less effectively and for fewer hours after having children, while only eight mothers continue to work at the same rate. This suggests that the majority of working women are unable to expand their careers due to the demands of parenthood and domestic responsibilities. They also may not receive the necessary assistance from their spouses or families.

“My husband has no responsibility in the house, and my infant daughter is one year old. She is attached to me even when she is playing. This had an impact on my availability, so I had to stop working after having children.” - Mother freelancer participant

Our participants also provided feedback on how Gaza Sky Geeks can support freelance moms primarily by providing affordable daycare for their children. They also expressed their need to have similar events frequently so they can have this type of safe space.

"It was an incredible event, with lots of shared experiences, mutual struggles, and a lot to learn; we had a great time and got a lot off our chest."

INSIGHTS THAT LEAD TO ACTIONS

Based on the feedback we obtained from this focus group, Gaza Sky Geeks will begin to consider integrating activities for children in our training and events so that mothers can attend and focus fully. Furthermore, the Gaza Sky Geeks’ team will commit to adapting and altering the programs’ design to meet the demands of working mothers.

This event aligns strategically with? Gaza Sky Geeks and Mercy Corps’ objectives to deliver programming that recognizes, reduces, and addresses the unequal distribution of paid and unpaid care work and supports and protects the rights of paid and unpaid care workers. We are committed to raising awareness of the gender pay gap in Palestine and globally to advocate for women’s economic empowerment.